Alleged kidnapper faces more charges

A Washington man already awaiting trial for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting his former girlfriend earlier this year was arraigned Wednesday on drug and other charges.

Avery Lional Turner Jr., 22, of 750 Fayette St., reportedly had 184 stamp bags of suspected heroin as well as a stolen .45-caliber semiautomatic revolver when he was taken into custody May 23 by members of the Washington County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force and state police.

Task force detectives and state police received a tip that Turner was staying in a room at the Ramada Inn, West Chestnut Street, North Franklin Township.

Turner was wanted on warrants by East Washington police for allegedly kidnapping his estranged girlfriend from in front of the LeMoyne Center April 8 and then driving through Washington while assaulting her. Washington police obtained a warrant on a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly putting a knife to the same woman’s throat during a confrontation at her Lincoln Terrace home April 17.

Police knocked on the door of the room and saw Turner look out from behind a curtain. When Turner refused to open the door, detectives and police forced their way into the room. Also in the room was Mercedes Renee Stamm, 19, of 301 Locust Ave., Washington.

Detectives spotted a digital scale and a gun on a night stand. Several stamp bags of the suspected drugs were on the mattress.

The task force obtained a search warrant and found a total of 184 stamp bags. The gun had been reported stolen to East Washington police.

Stamm also has been charged by the task force in connection with the incident. She is wanted on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy and hindering apprehension.

Turner was at the office of District Judge Robert Redlinger Wednesday for a hearing on the aggravated assault charges filed by city police. That hearing was continued because the alleged victim had not been notified.

Turner was then arraigned before Redlinger on the new charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, conspiracy, person not to possess a firearm and receiving stolen property. Redlinger set bond on the new charges at $20,000. Turned has been in the Washington County jail on $30,000 bond for the charges filed by East Washington and Washington police, as well as on a state probation detainer.

A hearing is now scheduled for July 8 on both the drug and aggravated assault charges.